Fran saw Joe seated on the side of the bed. “Morning, Joe, thanks for covering me last night.”
“No problem, Jacob didn’t want you to get cold. How did you sleep?”
“Not bad actually,” Fran said, breaking out into a yawn. “Sorry.”
“Joe is here, why don’t you go off and get some more sleep?” Jacob suggested.
“I’ll not leave his side,” Joe assured him.
Fran shook his head. “I don’t need any more sleep, but I will go and have a shower. I’m sure either Ezzy or Finn won’t mind lending me some clothes. But before that, Jacob, do you need anything?”
“I need the loo,” Jacob told him.
“Do you want to try for the bathroom or use the bottle?” Fran asked.
“As much as I hate it, the bottle would be best,” he admitted.
Fran stood up. “Okay, Joe if you don’t mind, can you step outside for a moment, I’ll call you back in once Jacob is sorted.”
Joe nodded and stood up. “I’ll be right outside the door.”
“Thanks, Joe,” Jacob said to his retreating back.
“Firstly, let me help you sit up,” Fran said, helping him move and gently sit up, putting more pillows behind him. He then went and opened the curtains, before opening a cupboard to look for the bottles. Luckily, he found one and, picking it up, walked over to Jacob who had moved to the side of the bed. He unscrewed the lid and put it next to Jacob, handing him the bottle. “I’ll be over by the window looking outside, call if you need me.”
Jacob smiled. “That’s what Robbie did.”
“Great minds,” Fran said, turning away and walking to the window to look out at the garden.
Jacob did his business, screwed the lid on and sorted himself out. “All done. I’d kill for a shower.”
Fran walked over and took the bottle from Jacob. “Pretty sure you can’t have one yet, but we can check. If not, I could always give you a sponge bath.”
“Somehow I don’t think that will have the same effect as standing under running water.”
Fran grinned. “It won’t, but it will be fun for me. Let me get rid of this, then I’ll be back.”
Jacob settled back against the pillows as Fran walked into the bathroom. He heard Fran flush the toilet, soon he was back with a washcloth and towel. Handing the wet one to Jacob. “There is soap on there as well.”
“Thanks,” Jacob said, wiping his hands and then running it over his face, before handing the washcloth back to Fran, who passed him the towel so he could dry his hands and face. “Thanks, Fran,” he said, passing it back.
“You’re welcome.”
It didn’t take Fran long to take everything back to the bathroom and open the door for Joe to come back in.
CHAPTER 23
Frank was walking back to the castle. As he did each morning before breakfast, he checked in with the enforcers who had night patrol around the area. As Beta, he was responsible for overseeing all enforcers, but as the Pullman pack lands were so big, he had leaders in each town who emailed him daily with updates. It was how the pack lands remained safe.
He stopped walking just outside of the castle grounds. He couldn’t believe he was moving back into his childhood home. He loved living in the castle, it was fun, and now he was moving back in.
He carried on walking and as he got closer, he saw a strange car parked up by the entrance. He remembered his brother had messaged him last night saying a friend of Jacob’s had moved in. He was glad Jacob had a friend from his home pack with him. Before he could reach the front steps, he saw his brother in wolf form trotting over to join him.
“Morning, is there a problem, or are you just out for a run?”
Berni shifted back. “Just out for a run. How was everything?”
“All is quiet, I’ll check with the others later. We need to get those three men to tell us everything they know.”
